Highway for grade-crossings



K. W. CARTER. HIGHWAY FOR GRADE CHOSSINGS. APPLICATION FILED 09129, Iszo.

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earsar orties KENNETH W'XILSN- CARTER, @F ANTGNIQ, TEXft.

A HIGHWAY FOR GRADE-CROSS1NGS.

Leganes.-

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KENNETH WrLsoN CARTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and 'useful improvements in Highways for GradeiC/rossings, oi' which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to highways for grade crossings and it contemplates certain new and useful improvements ini my co-v pendingI application tiled March 1.5.1920, berial o. 365,950.

The purpose of my present invention is the provision of a highway for grade crossings which compels the drivers of vehicles to display the necessary caution when approaching; a grade crossing, and permits the clear get-away of the vehicles only after they have actually crossed the railway track. Furthermore, my invention provides a highway of extremely simplified construction without sacrificing eiliciency.

l will describe two forms of highways embodying my invention and will then point" out the novel features thereof in claims.,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective one iorm of highway embodying my 'invention. y'

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the highn way shown in liig. l.

Fig; 3 is a plan view of one half oi. a modified form of highway embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, H designates gener ally a highway forming the subject matter of my invention which as shown is formed as a continuation or' the ordinary highway l-l' The highway H', as well as thl highway H, are inter-seated by a railway track T y which is disposed in the same plane as the highways so as to form the usual grade crossing.

The highway H comprises, in the present instance, two pairs of curbings C and C formed oi concrete or any other suitable material, and having their upper edges rounded as shown in Fig'. 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the curbings C are oiset with relation to the curbings C', with the curbings of each pair spaced apart in parallellsm and curved longitudinally to provide e tortuous Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2'?, 1921.

y Application :filed Getuhr 2Q, 1929. Serial No. 12tlg/16.

passage orP roadway designated at and R, respectively. i As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 2, the curhings ot each pair project above the surface of the highway so as to positively define the roadways l and R, which latter are suiiiciently wide toperrnit of the passage of a vehicle ltherethrougli without actually contacting with the curhings, provided that the vehicle is traveling at a safe speed, as will be more fully described. hereinafter.

In order to prevent a vehicle sti'addling any of the curbings so as to eliminate the necessity of following the roadways dened by the curbings, the opposite ends of each curbing are provided with wings or lateral extensions l/V and W', the wings l/V extending from the inner curbing to the side of the highway, while the curbings W" extend from the corresponding `curbing to the center of the highway.

' ln the operation ot the highway, a vehicle arriving at the entrance end of, forinstance, say the roadway lt, is compelled, in order to pass through the highway, to traverse the roadway R, As this roadway defines a tortuous passage, it is obvious that the driver of the vehicle is forced to reduce the speed of the vehicle to such a degree that he can readily stop in case of an emergencvu Should he attempt to traverse the roadwaytI at a speed above a sate speed, the wheels on the vehicle will be thrown into Contact with the curbings, and by virtue or this frictional engagement or braking action upon the wheels will be eii'ected thereby reducing the speed of the vehicle to the prescribed limit. After the vehicle has traversed the roadway R and the railway track T, it is obvious that as no other obstructions are provided, the vehicle can make a clear getaway.

Referring now to Fig. 3,- have here shown one halt oi a modified form of high way embodying my invention in which the curbings are so shaped as to detlne a roadway with angularly and relatively abrupt ends which serve to increase the difficulty with which a vehicle can traverse a roadway ata speed above the prescribed limit. t

`will be understood that should. the vehicle hicle.

A.eilthough l have herein shown and de scribed only 'two 'forms of highway embodyirl@A my invcniari, if: i he nnfierstood hat :a lons changes ali/l ino'clilicaions may he, mail@ herein wihun departing from ih@ spirit ai? bho invention and the Spirit and scopa of he appended claims.

l. A highway for grade crossings, cornprisingr curhings arranged in ypairs at the (apposito siclcs of a railwaytrack, with the curhings o each pair spaced apart t@ provide toi'tnons roadways, the curbings of one pair being' oliisct with relation to the, curb# ings 0i' the other pair to allow of the quick gcbaway 0f a vehicle aier it has traversed one romlway. I

i3. highway for ggracle crossings, coniprisingrr cnrbing's arrangcfl in pairs at the opposite siilcs ci: a railway track, with the carhing's ml cach pair spared apari; to provide iortuons roadways, the curbings of one pair lacing' oiiisct with relation to the carhweggaan ings of the other pair, and wings formed on the opposite ends of cach curbing in a manner to prevent a. vehicle from stradclling lie cnrhings.

3. In combination, a railway and a highway for crossing the saine, and members rising above the surface of the highway at Offset pointa in the highway and at opposite sides or the railway for causing vehicles to take a tortuous course only before crossing the railway.

4;. A l'iighwayv for grade crossings, comprising' curbing-s arranged in pairs at the opposite sides of a railway track, with the curbinpgs of each pair spaced apart to provide tortuons roadways, the curbings of one pair being oiisct with relation t0 the curbings or the oher pair, and means for preyanting vehiclcs from straddling the curblags.

*l KENNETH WILSON CARTER.. 

